Archive for the ‘Insights’ Category

Luke 12: 49 I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

The foot note in the NKJ says it is better to understand the statement to be a reference to the burning zeal of believers rather than what some commentators think that fire symbolizes the divisive nature of Christ’s ministry.

I realize I have lost some of the zeal and passion I had previously for lost souls. I use to have a great concern for people’s spiritual state and that has diminished somewhat.

In light of this insight I prayed and asked the Lord to make me ablaze with His presence so that others would definitely see Jesus in me. I also asked that he would reignite that concern for the salvation of others. I want to be ablaze with the life of Christ.

© 2010 Peggy Park

“In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

I was at a prayer meeting recently where the leader played the piano and we sang the words of the beautiful old hymn, “The way of the cross leads home.” The actual title of the song is, I Must Needs Go Home. My imagination took flight as I thought of the comparisons of a good earthly home and our heavenly home.

My idea of a good home is one where we are accepted and valued in spite of our deficiencies. We are inspired to be the best we can be but are not constantly criticized

and corrected. The environment is comfortable emotionally as well as physically.

A good home offers warmth and welcome as well as respite from the outside world.

It is a place we can “let our hair down” and put our feet up and rest. Everything about it is familiar and the door is always open. We can feel the cares of life lift when we go over the threshold and experience the fellowship of our family. Sometimes we are embraced and kissed depending on how long we have been away. Many of us have dreamed of home when we have been in a foreign land. Holidays and special occasions evoke nostalgia. In our imaginations we smell the good food that we enjoy at these gatherings.

Going to our eternal home will be proceeded by a festive event called the marriage supper of the Lamb. The words of the song continue with, “then I bid farewell to the way of the world, To walk in it nevermore; for my Lord says, ‘come’, and I seek my home, where He waits at the open door.”

Consider all the above comparisons of a good home and our eternal home. Our home here (if it is a good caring home) is but a shadow of the blessings of our heavenly home.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Corinthians 2:9

Lord, Help me to eagerly anticipate and look forward with joy to the place you have prepared for me. Let this help to keep me motivated to serve you with all my heart, mind and soul while I sojourn on this earth and live in the home I have here. Help me to make my home a welcoming, comfortable, accepting place for my family. In the name of Jesus. Amen

© 2010, Peggy Park

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

I have to confess I am somewhat of a type A personality in that when I need something done I like to get right on it, get it done, and marked off my to do list. In the assignments God entrusts to us this approach often does not work.

Recently upon arrival home from a writer’s conference my head was swimming with all the writing projects and speaking promotion I could do; however, I have had it with my own ideas that don’t lead anywhere except to frustration. I want to be a good steward, so in the past I have run ahead with what seemed like the right thing to do, only to end up with no fruit to show for the effort. It was as if I was saying to the Lord, “Come along with me and bless my idea. You follow me, Jesus.”

A very proliferate writer/speaker said when she started praying five minutes a day over her ministry things really seemed to start happening. I certainly pray over what the Lord would have me pursue, but have interspersed those prayers into my regular time rather than a concentrated focus.

I decided I would try what she suggested as I was trying to sort through all the possibilities presented at the conference. When I finished this prayer time I heard in my spirit, “Be faithful, not frantic” I thought this was a very good word for many of us who want to serve the Lord, but sometimes shoot off in too many directions as we try to do our best for Him. (Noble as it is to want to serve Him)

Be faithful, not frantic is now my reminder that I am not to be anxious but to have faith in the Scripture in Psalm 138:8a “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” Then I will experience the peace promised in Philippians 4:7.”And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heats and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Prayer: Lord, help me to stay submitted to your will for ministry and not my own ideas. Help me to stay focused and faithful, but not frantic.

© 2010, Peggy Park

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 niv

Do you ever get carried away praying your plans for a friend or loved one? Have you included detailed suggestions as to the perfect answer for an urgent prayer need?

Recently when this happened to me I was reminded of the passage in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:10. I am to pray God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. I had it backwards! I was trying to pray my will from earth into heaven.

I have had to learn this over and over as I pray for others. My nursing background makes me want to see everybody whole and “fixed.” and not suffering. Just as we do not have the thoughts of God, we often are not on His timetable. He is working in ways we can not discern but, once we pray to the best of our understanding and leading, we must trust Him to work the situation out in His time and in His way.

I realize now it is much wiser to pray for God’s will to be done in a troubling situation. In addition we can search for Scriptures that pertain to the situation and pray those. The Father loves to hear His words spoken back to Him. I could never understand why this would be so until a comparison came to me. It is like a parent who tries and tries to teach a child something and then rejoices when they hear the child saying the teaching back like he was the one who thought of it. Then the parents knows the child “got it.” I think God rejoices to hear His children quoting His words back to Him. It shows Him we have been diligent to read His word and to believe it.

I also am learning to pray that the will of the person involved will line up with God’s will. This is a perfect prayer as it bypasses all my well intended suggestions.

© 2010, Peggy Park

There is a sure way to come to know God better and that is through

His word. His word is first of all Jesus, as His life reflected God. John 14: 9 b tells us, ‘He who has seen me has seen the Father.” We get a very accurate picture of the heart of God when we read about His son, Jesus, as He ministered to those around Him. Often they were the “down and outers”, people that others walked around without so much as a word to them.

We also know God through Scripture as He gives in His word instructions for living a fruitful, fulfilling life filled with love for Him and love for His creation – our fellow travelers in life who sometimes we don’t feel like loving.

Let us observe Jesus’ behavior and also be mindful of the guidelines in the Bible for each of us to follow.

© 2010, Peggy Park

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing.  I think this has to mean a heart attitude of submitting everything to Him whether we voice it aloud or not.

Volumes have been filled with thoughts on prayer, but the bottom line is mankind connecting with the creator, the lover of our souls through a focused, set apart, time as well as prayer thoughts floating up to Him as we journey through our daily lives. He is always available, the line is not busy when we call Him and he ever waits to fellowship with us.

Let us resolve to take full advantage of this opportunity to have an audience with our Father in heaven.

© 2010, Peggy Park.

I Corinthians 11:23-31 shares the first account of what the church refers to as communion or the Holy Eucharist.

In some mysterious way we can enjoy a deep fellowship with our Savior through a thoughtful observance of the communion service.

The Lord Jesus desires to meet with believers in the communion service. Here we experience a union of our spirits with the Holy Spirit as we reflect, with awe and reverence, remembering what Jesus’ sacrifice secured for the believer as He hung on the cross.

We remember the provision of the covenant sealed in the perfect blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus. We can read of these provisions in Isaiah 53:4,5. We celebrate that covenant through partaking of the bread and cup which represent His body and blood. Then we draw on covenant by proclaiming aloud what His blood sacrifice secured for us.

Indeed we are a blessed people to have this beautiful visible reminder of what Jesus provided for all who will come to Him.

© 2010, Peggy Park.

While our pursuit of Jesus is a spiritual one Scripture gives clear examples of those who sought His physical presence for blessings in the physical realm.

The hemorrhaging woman in Luke 8:43f was one who pushed through the throngs of people to get to Jesus. The blind beggar in Luke 18:35-43 refused to stay silent. He would not allow Jesus to pass him without contact as he cried out for mercy. Both of these needy people received what they asked for.

It is not always easy to actively pursue Jesus but it is rewarding as we see new faucets of Him that we do not discern on a carnal pursuit.

Let us intentionally pursue Him and we will see Him respond in amazing ways bringing peace to troubling situations and providing power for our lives and outreach to those he puts in our paths.

© 2010, Peggy Park.

“Let us lay aside very weight which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12 1B

Continuing with the thought from the last blog I want to emphasize

the absolute necessity of aggressively pursuing the Lord and His purposes for our lives. We can miss His will by being too passive, too insensitive, or too inattentive. The extreme cold weather we are experiencing right now invite us to curl up by the fire and neglect our daily quiet time.

Just as earthly relationships require time and attention so our relationship with the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) requires time and attention.

Jesus will not force Himself and His plans on us. We have the choice to pursue Him or to be passive. Sometimes it is difficult if we don’t “feel” His presence but he has promised He will never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

Let us put off passivity and put on purpose and plan to actively know Him better in 2010.

© 2010, Peggy Park

“Therefore, my brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” II Corinthians 15:58

Here we are at the threshold of a New Year. What will it bring? Will we find ourselves drawing closer to the Lord or will we get dull in our zeal for the Lord?

Do you get weary when what you think the Lord has called you to do does not work according to your plan? I have to confess that this happens to me and I have to get a grip and remember the times He has worked way beyond what my plan would have included.

One of these instances involved a call from a pastor in Pakistan who asked to translate the book I wrote, The Power of the Lamb’s Blood into his language, Urdu. We were not aware the book was in Pakistan. Distribution in the U.S has never reached my expectations but God had a plan beyond mine which has also included translation into Tamil (India) and Vietnamese.

I resolve to renew my commitment to do His work to the best of my ability, pray to know His will, to walk in the light He gives me, and stay steadfast in His work. I invite you to join me.

© 2010, Peggy Park